Lesson 2: “Behold, I Am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World”

Purpose

To help class members feel the powerful witness of the Savior that comes through the Doctrine and Covenants and to help them strengthen their testimonies of the Savior’s Atonement.

Preparation

1.

Prayerfully study the scriptures in this lesson. As you study the scripture passages on page 9, determine which ones will be most helpful for class members. Familiarize yourself with the passages you select, and prepare to use them in the lesson.

2.

Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide (35686). Plan ways to refer to the material during the lesson.

3.

If the following pictures are available, prepare to use them during the lesson: The Lord Jesus Christ (62572; Gospel Art Picture Kit 240); Jesus Praying in Gethsemane (62175; Gospel Art Picture Kit 227); and The Crucifixion (62505; Gospel Art Picture Kit 230). You may want to display the picture The Lord Jesus Christ throughout the lesson.

4.

If you use the attention activity, bring to class a branch from a tree.

Suggestions for Lesson Development

Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.

Display a branch from a tree. Point out that it is no longer receiving the nourishment it needs to stay alive.

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Why is this branch unable to receive the nourishment it needs? (It is separated from its roots.)

Share the following statement by Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve:

“[The Atonement of Jesus Christ] is the very root of Christian doctrine. You may know much about the gospel as it branches out from there, but if you only know the branches and those branches do not touch that root, if they have been cut free from that truth, there will be no life nor substance nor redemption in them” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1977, 80; or Ensign, May 1977, 56).

Contrast the dead branch with a strong, healthy tree. Emphasize that the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings us life and gives meaning to all other gospel doctrines. We should remember the Atonement as we study other principles throughout the rest of this course.

Discussion and Application

Prayerfully select the lesson material that will best meet class members’ needs.

1. The Doctrine and Covenants testifies of Jesus Christ.

Emphasize that one purpose of all scripture is to testify of Jesus Christ and to persuade people to come to Him and partake of salvation. The Bible, the books of Moses and Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, and the Book of Mormon are ancient testaments, or witnesses, of Jesus Christ. The Doctrine and Covenants is a testament of Jesus Christ given in this dispensation. This book of scripture bears witness that Jesus is the Christ, that He lives, and that He continues to speak to prophets and guide His people today.

Ask class members to turn to the Explanatory Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants. Have them read the last sentence in the eighth paragraph (this sentence begins with the phrase “Finally, the testimony that is given”).

Point out that the Doctrine and Covenants contains powerful testimonies of the Savior and His work. Most of these are from the Savior Himself. Have class members read the following passages as examples: D&C 50:41–44 and D&C 76:22–24.

Explain that this lesson discusses teachings in the Doctrine and Covenants about the Savior.

2. Jesus Christ “suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.”

Display the pictures of Jesus in Gethsemane and on the cross. Explain that the Doctrine and Covenants contains many revelations that can increase our understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. These revelations give us a sense of the depth of the Savior’s suffering and the magnitude of the love that He and Heavenly Father have for us.

The Savior describes His atoning sacrifice

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Read D&C 19:16–19 with class members. Explain that this is the only scripture passage in which the Savior describes His own suffering during His atoning sacrifice. What does this passage teach about the Savior’s suffering for us? Why was Jesus willing to experience such great suffering for us? (See D&C 18:10–11; 19:19, 24; 34:3.)

Through the Atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins and inherit celestial glory

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Read the following passages with class members: D&C 18:11–12; 19:16–17, 20; 58:42; 76:62–70. What do these passages teach about the blessings we can receive through the Savior’s Atonement? (Answers could include those listed below.)

If we repent, Christ has taken upon Himself the suffering for our sins (D&C 19:16–17, 20).

c.

If we repent, the Lord forgives us and remembers our sins no more (D&C 58:42).

d.

We can come forth in the first resurrection, be made perfect through Christ, and inherit celestial glory (D&C 76:62–70).

Through the Atonement, the Savior gained perfect empathy for us in all our sorrows, pains, and afflictions

Explain that during His life and culminating in the Atonement, the Savior suffered in a way that gave Him a perfect understanding of all our pains and afflictions.

Have class members turn to D&C 122. This section is a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri. Point out that in the first seven verses the Lord speaks of the Prophet Joseph’s trials. Then in verse 8 the Lord speaks of Himself.

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Read D&C 122:8 with class members. In what way has the Savior “descended below” all things? (See Alma 7:11–12; D&C 62:1; 133:53. Note that the word succor means to help. Because the Savior has experienced all our sorrows, pains, and afflictions, He understands how we feel. He knows how to help us.) How can this knowledge help us when we experience trials?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve said: “When … difficult times come to us, we can remember that Jesus had to descend below all things before He could ascend above them, and that He suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind that He might be filled with mercy and know how to succor His people in their infirmities (see D&C 88:6; Alma 7:11–12)” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 91; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 69).

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When have you felt the power of the Atonement in your life? What can we do to feel this power more completely?

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How can we show the Savior our gratitude for His Atonement? How should our understanding of the Atonement affect us in our daily lives?

3. The Doctrine and Covenants helps us understand the Savior’s roles and attributes.

Explain that to be able to exercise faith in God, we must have “a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes” (in Joseph Smith, comp., Lectures on Faith [1985], 38). The Doctrine and Covenants helps us gain this understanding.

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What attributes of the Savior do you see in the passages we have read today? (Write class members’ answers on the chalkboard. Answers could include charity, obedience, humility, and submissiveness.)

Select some of the following scripture passages to read with class members. Discuss what each passage teaches about the Savior’s roles and attributes. Summarize the information on the chalkboard.

a.

D&C 6:20–21. (If we are faithful and diligent, the Savior will encircle us in the arms of His love. He is the light that shines in darkness.)

b.

D&C 6:32–37. (He offers us protection and comfort and is ready to bless us when we remember Him and obey His commandments.)

c.

D&C 19:1–3. (Having done the will of the Father, He has subdued all things and retained all power. He will destroy Satan and his works. He will judge all people according to their deeds.)

d.

D&C 29:1–2. (His arm of mercy has atoned for our sins. If we hearken to His voice and humble ourselves, He will gather us as a hen gathers her chickens.)

e.

D&C 38:1–3. (He is the Creator of the world, and He knows all things.)

Why is it important for you to know these roles and attributes of the Savior? How have the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants enriched your testimony of the Savior?

Conclusion

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Read D&C 19:23 with class members. How can the truths that we have discussed today help you receive peace?

As prompted by the Spirit, testify of Jesus Christ. Emphasize that because of His Atonement, we all will be resurrected. Through His Atonement, He extends to us the invitation to repent and come unto Him, receiving “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23). Encourage class members to partake of all the blessings of the Atonement by exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, obeying the commandments, and enduring to the end.

Suggest that as class members study the Doctrine and Covenants this year, they continue to look for what it teaches about Jesus Christ. He is the central figure in the book. The powerful witnesses and truths that are given in these revelations can enrich each person’s testimony of Him.

Additional Teaching Ideas

1. “I Stand All Amazed”

In advance, study the text of the hymn “I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns, no. 193). Find lines in the hymn that can be supported by passages in the Doctrine and Covenants. The following examples may help you.

Write Advocate on the chalkboard. Explain that several times in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord says that He is our Advocate (D&C 29:5; 45:3; 62:1; 110:4).

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What is an advocate? (Someone who pleads the cause of another.)

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Read D&C 45:3–5 with class members. Why do we need an “advocate with the Father”? In verses 4 and 5, what evidence does the Savior present to the Father to show that we should receive everlasting life? (First He speaks of His Atonement—His sufferings, death, and blood. Then He refers to our belief in Him.)

3. Bearing witness of Jesus Christ through His titles

Explain that the Doctrine and Covenants contains more than 60 titles for Jesus Christ, each of which invokes special respect for Him. For example, the Lord refers to Himself as “Redeemer,” “Savior,” and “the light and the life of the world.”

Have class members scan pages 174–85 in the index to the triple combination to find other titles for Jesus Christ. List on the chalkboard the titles they find.

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What do Jesus’ titles teach about His attributes and His mission?

4. The Light of Christ

Explain that the Light of Christ is sometimes referred to as our conscience, but it is much more than that. To help class members gain a greater understanding of the Light of Christ, have them read the second and third paragraphs under “Light of Christ” on page 725 of the Bible Dictionary. Then have them read D&C 88:6–13; 93:2; Moroni 7:13, 16–19.

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What can we learn about the Light of Christ from the Bible Dictionary and these passages? (Answers could include those listed below.)

a.

The Light of Christ “[fills] the immensity of space” and “giveth life to all things” (D&C 88:12–13).

b.

It is an uplifting influence that is given to every person who is born into the world (D&C 93:2).

c.

It helps us know good from evil and invites us to do good and believe in Christ (Moroni 7:13, 16–19).

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How can we allow the Light of Christ to be a greater influence in our lives?